Ventilated vegetable bin or container



Sept. 20, 1955 D. R. lRVlN 2,718,324

I VENTILATED VEGETABLE BIN OR CONTAINER Filed July 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 7 0 D. R. IIU L/T/ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS A Sept. 20, 1955 D, ,Rvm 2,718,324

VENTILATED VEGETABLE BIN OR CONTAINER Filed July 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIIIIIII'IlImIIiIIIlI ulnlllllIIIIlI BY Mill-V60- ATTORNEYS United States Patent VENTILATED VEGETABLE BIN 0R CONTAINER Dock R. Irvin, Corpus Christi, Tex.

Application July 23, 1952, Serial No. 300,424

1 Claim. (Cl. 217-) This invention relates to a vegetable bin or container, the primary object of the invention being to provide a vegetable bin which is so constructed and arranged that a free circulation of air is insured throughout the compartments of the bin, thereby ventilating the vegetables contained therein.

An important object of the invention is to provide a vegetable bin or container which is divided into a plurality of vegetable compartments separated by vertical partitions which are so mounted that they may be readily removed and replaced to permit of the cleaning or repairing of the bin with facility.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container or vegetable bin having a removable tray closing the bottom thereof, which tray is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the lower front and rear edges of the bin or container, providing a space for the free circulation of air under the vegetables supported in the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a container or bin constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the container is box-like in formation and comprises a front wall 5, rearwall 6 and end walls 7, the front and rear walls being connected to the front and rear edges respectively of the end walls, as clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Secured within the container is the rectangular supporting frame 8, which is of a width to extend adjacent to the lower edges of the front and rear walls 5 and 6.

This rectangular supporting frame provides a support for the bottom 9 which is constructed of foraminous material so that a circulation of air upwardly through the container or bin is insured at all times.

Supporting bars 10 extend inwardly from the lower edges of the end walls 7 and provide a support for the tray 11 which has its rear edge so constructed that extensions 12 are provided, which extensions extend beyond the rear edge of the tray to engage the rear edges of the end walls 7, restricting forward movement of the tray. Since these supporting bars 10 are spaced downwardly from the lower edge of the supporting frame, spaces 13 2,718,324 Patented Sept. 20, 1955 are provided at the front and rear of the container or bin, the spaces being substantially wide and extended throughout the length of the bin, so that a circulation of air through the spaces will be directed upwardly through the foraminous bottom 9, ventilating the vegetables contained therein.

Spaced vertical guides 14 are arranged in pairs and are secured to the inner surfaces and the front and rear walls of the container or bin, which guides provide supports for the vertical partition 15 which move therein, the lower edges of the vertical partitions resting directly on the rectangular supporting frame 8. These partitions divide the container or bin into a number of compart ments in which vegetables may be stored.

As shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, the front and rear corners of the end walls 7 are rounded as at 16 so .that the bin may be readily tilted forwardly or rearwardly to agitate the vegetables contained in the bin, should it be desired to move the vegetables with respect to each other to prevent deterioration of the vegetables.

These curved forward and rear edges of the end walls of the container or bin also permit the bin to be tilted forwardly or rearwardly to permit removal of the vegetables with facility, particularly when the bin is located in a restricted area.

While I have shown and described the bottom 9 as constructed of foraminous material, it is to be understood that the bottom may comprise a length of sheet metal material perforated to allow air to circulate upwardly therethrough.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A bin for holding vegetables, fruit or the like comprising, a body portion including a front, a back and ends, all of which are imperforate, the bottom edges of the front and back terminating at substantially the same elevation and the tip edge of the front terminating at an elevation substantially below the top edge of the back, the top edges of the ends being inclined downwardly toward the top edge of the front, the ends extending downwardly below the bottom edges of the front and back for a substantial distance, the bottom edges of the ends being rounded at the ends of such edges so that the bin may be transversely tilted, supporting bars secured to the inner faces of the ends adjacent to their bottom edges, a substantially flat tray removably mounted upon the supporting bars and having all parts thereof permanently spaced from the bottom edges of the front and back for affording a ventilating passage between the tray and interior of the body portion when the tray is in place, said ventilating passage having permanently open inlet openings, a frame mounted within the body portion and having its bottom edge terminating substantially at the elevation of the bottom edges of the front and back, said frame not covering the inlet openings of said passage, a foraminous bottom mounted upon the top of said frame and spaced from the bottom edges of the front and back and said tray for forming an enlarged air chamber beneath the food products supported by the foraminous bottom, and vertical partitions removably mounted within the body portion and having their lower edges bearing against and supported by said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATETNS 941,736 Smith Nov. 30, 1909 1,179,703 Dean Apr. 18, 1916 1,458,440 Robison June 12, 1923 2,099,279 Schnider Nov. 16, 1937 2,538,670 Cohen Ian. 16, 1951 

